Wednesday, July 13, 2011

GREEN XPLORER (Bukit Lawang Treking Exhebition)

Orang Utan Bukit Lawang (sumatera sp)

Bukit Lawang is one of the top destinations in Sumatra, Bukit Lawang is a small village on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park located in North Sumatra. Bukit Lawang means Gateway to the Hills. Bukit Lawang is famous for the Bohorok Rehabilitation Centre now known as the Orangutan Centre.

Bukit Lawang is 68 km from Medan. A bus trip will take around 3 - 4 hours. The road from Binjai to Bukit Lawang is the worst it has been in 10 years. The good news is that in Dec 2008 they started extensive repairs to the road, resurfacing it in many places

White handed Gibbon

At the top of the village of Bukit Lawang is the Bohorok Rehabilitation Centre which has not operated since the flood. They still have a few orangutan in their care but no new animals are brought in for rehabilitation. There are 2 feeding sessions each day (8am and 3pm) open to the public where you have a good chance of the seeing some the orangutan that have been released to the wild. They often come back for an easy feed. You will need to get a permit to enter the National Park. Ask in your hotel as they can arrange the permit, you can arrange it yourself at the PHPA office at the beginning of Bukit Lawang or you can pay for your permit when you cross the river at the Orangutan Centre. Permit costs 20,000Rp.

Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking

Now has a packages tour and trek about Bukit lawang and Tangkahan

The best way to experience the jungle is to go trekking. You can arrange 3 hours trekking, 6 hours or 1, 2, 3 days or more with the chance of spotting various wildlife as well as some beautiful spots like waterfalls and swimming holes

Traditional rafting

The guides inBukit Lawang need to be certified with the local PHPA office and need to renew their license each year. The guides will generally find you as they are always hunting tourists. Many of the current trekking guides have come from other areas of Sumatra and learned to be guides. If you are looking for an authentic trekking guide who grew up in Bukit Lawang then go to Indra Inn, close to Garden Inn and Jungle Inn. Ask for Iwan also affectionately know as Obiwan. Iwan's grandfather and father were some of the original trekkers to take scientists and then tourists into the jungle so his knowledge was passed down from them. I personally knew Iwan's father and brother, both called Indra and have been trekking with Iwan and totally trust him. He generally cares for the jungle and has a good understanding of the plants and animals that live there. Cost for trekking is 65 Euros per night per person. This includes your food and coming back via tubing down the river. You can arrange for a half day trek, up to 4 hours for 20 Euros per person or a 6 hour trek for 35 Euros per person.We now have package tours available for trips to Bukit Lawang from Medan. For more

The guides have various campsites setup throughout the jungle, generally next to the river. Usually with small covered shelters which protect from rain during the night.

A short walk from Bukit Lawang is a bat cave. Cross the suspension bridge to Eco-Lodge Hotel and then turn left. Follow the trail for a pleasant 15 minute walk past corn fields and there is a small sign pointing you to the bat cave. Admission fee to enter the cave is 5000Rp.

( Lawang Bath cave )

Tubing can be easily arranged along the Bohorok river as many of the hotels hire out inflated truck inner tube tires. Be warned that many people have encountered problems. The river runs quite fast along the village and the river can rise very quickly when it has been raining.

Tarditional Rafting tour

Indonesian Cooking ClassesIf you are interested in learning to cook some Indonesian dishes, Nora at Rainforest Guesthouses holds cooking classes for 100,000Rp. The classes will teach you how to prepare a 3 course meal, entry, main and desert. A selection of dishes are available for you to select.Rafting trips from Bukit Lawang

Day trips can be arranged from Bukit Lawang to the WampuRiver for a day of whitewater rafting. The WampuRiver has grade 1 - 2 rapids so is perfect for beginners. You will need a minimum of 3 people to take on one of these trips though you may find other travelers in Bukit Lawang to join you. The day trips costs 880,000Rp (around US$78) per person and includes return transport to the WampuRiver (around 2 hours there), raft, safety equipment, rafting guides and lunch. If you would like to pre-book one of these trips before you arrive'

Bukit Lawang is famous with the tropical rain jungle, where the jungle still virgin and the most rich of endemic Flora and Fauna. Now day...

Bukit Lawang Hotel

Following is a list of accommodation (hotels and guesthouses) in Bukit Lawang including room rates, For prices and details call:/081360455231/085361759583 and hotel reviews from other travelers.

Sam's Bungalowshas 3 rooms. Located right at the top end of Bukit Lawang close to the Orangutan centre. Prices are 80,000Rp, 150,000Rp and 180,000Rp. For prices and details call :085361759583

Jungle Inn has 9 rooms all with different jungle designs ranging from 250,000Rp - 500,000Rp per night. Prices may go up during the high season (June - August) For prices and details call:081360455231/085361759583

Eco-Lodgeis one of the best places to stay in Bukit Lawang with 34 rooms with 5 different styles including their brand new Orangutan rooms. From 155,000Rp - 300,000Rp per night. For prices and details call://085361759583

Indra Valley Inn and Restaurant has 2 bungalows and 2 standard rooms. Located at the top end of Bukit Lawang. Prices from 50,000Rp. For prices and details call:// 085361759583

Garden Inn and Restauranthas 7 rooms and one house with rooms between 35,000Rp - 50,000Rp and the house for 200,000Rp per night. For prices and details call:// 085361759583

Rainforest Guesthouse, run by the fabulous Nora Rainforest Guesthouse is located just next to the camping ground and opened in April 2008. Room prices from 40,000 For pictures, prices and details call:// 085361759583

Nora's Homestay also run by the fabulous Nora, is located off the main road running into Bukit Lawang. Prices start from 30,000Rp per night. For prices and details call:// 085361759583

Rindu Alam Hotel is located right at the bottom end of Bukit Lawang as you first enter the village. They have 40 standard rooms and 4 family rooms. Room prices start from 250,000Rp. For prices and details call://085361759583

Yusman Guest Houseis located on the other side of the river via the large suspension bridge. Prices start from 25,000Rp. For prices and deatails call://085361759583

Bukit Lawang Indah Hotel is right next door to Yusman Guest House. Prices start from 30,000Rp. For prices and details call:// 085361759583